Combined switch and fuse



May 31, 1949. VON HOORN 2,471,848

COMBINED SWITCH AND FUSE Filed Dec. 29, 1945 Inventor: Fred G. von Hoor-n,

Hi5 Attorneg.

' Patented May 31, 1949 2,471,848 COMBINED swrrcn AND FUSE Fred G. von Hoorn, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,060

8 Claims. (01. 200-414) My invention relates to a circuit controlling device and more particularly to a fuse structure provided with a built-in switch mechanism for that the line must be cleared temporarily in an emergency, the switch mechanism may be operated to accomplish this.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a circuit controlling device consisting of a combined fuse and switch mechanism which is. formed of relatively few parts designed to give a compact arrangement particularly suited for mounting on a panel.

Still another obiect of my invention is the provision of a circuit controlling device including a fuse and switch in combination with an indicating lamp. the arrangement being such that the lamp lights when the fu e blows and goes out when the switch is operated.

In the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a circuit controlling mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the interior of the mechanism with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the combined fuse and switch structure, and Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit through the device,

Referring to the drawing, my circuit controlling device is provided with a housing I formed of a supporting plate 2 and a cover 3. A portion of plate 2 is bent at an angle to form a mounting panel 4. The panel carries oppositely extending ears 5 for mounting the device on a support by screws which extend through the support into threaded receptacles 6. The cover 3 is held in position by a screw 1 extending into a bracket 8 formed in the front panel 5. The circuit contemporarily closing the fuse circuit in the event trolling device includes a combined fuse and 2 When the fuse blows, the light Ill comes on to indicate that the fuse should.be replaced. The electrical circuit through the circuit controller is illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig, 4, the circuit controlling device is placed across the two conductors II and [2 of a power'supply line which is to be protected. Protection of the circuit is afforded by a fuse I3. In normal operation current flows from line H through a conductor l4, fuse l3, conductor l5 back to the other side l2 of the power supply. When the fuse blows due to a fault in the line, the power supply circuit i interrupted. Current now flows from line H through a voltage reducing resistor IE to the lamp i0 and then back to the other supply line l2. In certain situations, as in an emergency, it is desirable to provide means whereby the circuit through the power supply lines II and I2 may be reestablished for a short time interval, even though the fuse l3 has blown indicating that a fault exists in the circuit. To accomplish this result, I provide a switch means ll" associated with the fuse and comprising normally spaced contact members; In order to close the switch, the combined fuse vide a casing l8 of insulating material which is formed as an elongated cylinder having a recess l9 for receiving the fuse l3. By way of example, I have illustrated the fuse [3 as being of the cartridge type although it should be manifest that other types of fuses. may be used equally as well. In order to support the fuse l3 and for making an electrical connection therewith, the casing is provided with a clip 20 at the bottom of the recess IS, the clip being formed as a cylindrical cup-shaped member for receiving one of the ferrules on the fuse l3. The casing is also provided with a cylinder 2| set in the recess l9 and which is formed of a thin metallic conducting sleeve. It is screw threaded at one end, as shown at 22. A plug 23 of insulating material is provided to close the end of the recess l9. To this end, the plug is provided with an extension 24 provided with screw threads for engaging the threads 22 on the cylinder2i so that the 3 I plug may be, mounted in position on'the casing. The end of the plug is provided with a clip 25 formed as a cup-shaped member and which is adapted to receive the other ferrule of the cartridge fuse l3.' The clip 25 is fastened to the end of the plug by means of. a drive pin 28.

When it is desired to insert a cartridge fuse in the casing, the p1ug23 is removed and one ferrule of the fuse inserted in the clip 25. Then the assembled fuse and plug are inserted in the casing so that the other ferrule of the fuse .is seated in position in the clip 20. By threading the plug 23 down into seated position in the casing, the fuse cartridge is forced into seated position against a coiled spring 21 so that a good electrical connection is provided between the clips and the fuse ferrules. The clip 25 in the plug is wedged in between the wall of cylinder 2| and the fuse ferrule so that a good electrical connection is obtained between the fuse ferrule and the cylinder 2|. The structure provides a means for easy replacement of the fuse. Electrical connections are made with opposite ends of the fuse in the following way.

Referring to Fig. 2, itwill. be seen'that the conductor I4 is electrically connected to a terminal ment for a biasingspring' 43. The spring 43 is coiled around the outside of the casing and is compressed between the sleeve 42 and a bracket 44 carried by the supporting plate 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the sleeve 42 is provided with a slot 45 which extends around terminal 28 so that the sleeve 42 may be slipped over the casing around 7 the terminal to the position shown.

28 extending outwardly from the casing l8. This terminal extends through the wall of the casinginto engagement with .the conducting cylinder 2| so that an electrical connection is provided between the conductor l4 and the clip 25 which engages one of the fuse ferrules. The other conductor I5 is electrically connected to a U-shaped spring support 29 which is fastened to the end of the casing as by a rivet 30 or other suitable fastening means. The rivet 38 extends through the wall of the casing and makes electrical contact with the interior fuse clip 28 so that an electrical connection is provided between the conductor l5 and the other ferrule of the fuse. ture thus far described gives fuse protection to the associated power supply circuit. In the event that the fuse blows, additional switch mecha-' nism is provided so that the power supply circuit can be closed in an emergency.

The switch mechanism is built into and forms part of the fuse structure. It includes two normally spaced contact buttons 3| and 32. The contact button 3| is fastened to the spring support 29 so that it is electrically connected to both the conductor l5 and one end of the fuse. The other contact button 32 is supported on a plate of insulating material 33 which is fastened to upstanding ears 34 on the plate 2. A terminal lug 35 is connected to contact 32 for making an electrical connection with the conductor ii of the supply line. In order to operate the switch mechanism, the casing I8 containing the fuse is moved back and forth to open and close the circuit through the contacts 3| and 32 in a manner now to be described.

The casing I8 is slidably mounted on the supporting plate 2. To this end, the end of the easing opposite the contact 3| is formed with an enlarged head portion 36 which extends through an opening 31 in the front panel 5. In order to limit outward movement of the casing a washer 38 is slipped over the narrower portion of the casing and rests against the head 36. It is held in position by a nut 39 threaded onto the screw threads 48 formed about a portion of the outer circumference of the casing l8. A collar M of insulating material is then slipped into position over the threads and is held by a sleeve 42 which surrounds the casing and which forms an abut- During manufacture, the washer 38 and nut 39 are first located in'position on the casing and then the collar 4| and the sleeve 42 are assembled in position. The casing I 8 is then inserted through the opening 31 in the front panel 5 so that the Washer 38 rests against the inner face of the panel. Spring 43 is then slipped over the .casing and the bracket 44 mounted in position to support the other end of the casing. Once the parts are assembled in position, the bracket 44 is fastened to the plate 2 in any suitable manner, as by rivets 46. After final assembly, the contact button 3| is normally spaced from the contact 32 and is held in this position by the biasing action of the compression spring 43. When it is desired to operate the switch mechanism, the head 36 is simply pressed inwardly against the spring action to close the contacts. It mayv be held in this position as long as desired.

I prefer to use my circuit controlling device in conjunction with an indicating lamp which will show when the fuse l3 has blown. The lamp I0 is a standard type indicating light now available on the market. It is electrically connected to the power supply I2 and to the resistor I6 in the manner shown by Fig. 4. The resistor I6 is mounted on the insulating plate 33 by means of a lock washer 41 and screw 48. In addition to giving an indication when the fuse is blown, the indicating light serves to show the operator that the circuit is closed when the switch mechanism is operated. Upon operation of the switch, the

circuit to the lamp will be short circuited and the light willgo out.

The fuse and switch structures are combined into a single mechanism which provides a compact arrangement of the parts taking up little space. The device is particularly Well suited for panel mounting. When in mounted position, the operating head 36 extends beyond the panel where it is readily accessible for operation of the switch mechanism. Moreover, the fuse is easily accessible for replacement. The fuse itself is removed from the casing by removing the plug 23 inasmuch as the fuse is frictionally held in the clip 25 carried by the plug; the spring 2'! acts to remove the fuse from engagement with the inner clip 20.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, a supporting member, a casing of insulating material carried by said supporting member for sliding movement thereon, said casing being provided with a recess having spaced contact clips therein, a cartridge type fuse vin said recess carried by said contact clips, cooperating contact means carried by said casing and said i clips in said recess, a cartridge type fuse in said recess making an electrical connection with said contact clips, spaced supports, saidcasing being mounted on said supports for sliding movement therein, an electrical contact carried by said casing and being electrically connected to one of said contact clips,,a fixed contact carried by one of said supports, said casing being movable to engage said mentioned contacts for closing an electrical circuit therethrough.

3. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, an elongated casing of insulating material having a recess therein, spaced contact clips in said recess, a cartridge fuse in said casing making an electrical connection with said contact clips, supporting means for slidably mounting said casing, and switch means electrically connected to one of said contact clips and being operable upon movement of said casing for controlling a circuit.

4. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, a supporting member, a casing of insulating material carried by said supporting member for sliding movement thereon, said casing being provided with a, recess having spaced contact clips therein, a cartridge-type fuse in said recess carried by said contact clips, an electrical contact carried by said casing and being electrically connected to one of said clips, 9. fixed contact carried by said support and adapted to be engaged by the movable contact upon movement of said casing, and spring means carried by said casing for biasing said contacts to open circuit position.

5. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, a supporting member, a casing of insulating material carried by said supporting member for sliding movement thereon, a cartridge type fuse carried by said casing, cooperative contact means carried by said casing and said support and being electrically connected to said fuse, movement of said casing in one direction closing the circuit through said contact means, and spring means carried by said casing for maintaining the contact means inopen circuit position.

6. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, a supporting member, a casing of insulating material carried by said supporting member for sliding movement thereon, said casing being provided with a recess having spaced contact clips therein, a cartridge type fuse in said recess carried by said contact clips, a plug for closing said recess, an electrical contact carried by said casing electrically connected toone of saidclips, a fixed contact carried by said support and adapted to be engaged by tbemovable contact upon sliding movement of said casing, and spring means disposed around said casing for biasing said contacts to open circuit position.

'7. A circuit controlling device comprising, in 1 combination, a casing slidably mounted for movement on a support, a fuse carried by said casing for protecting an electric circuit, and switch means operated by manual movement of said casing to close the circuit in the event that the fuse blows.

8. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, a supporting member, a casing of insulating material carried by said supporting member for sliding movement thereon, an electrical fuse carried by said casing, an electrical contact carried by said casing and being electrically connected to one end of the fuse, a fixed contact carried by said support andadapted to be engaged by the movablecontact upon movement of said casing, and spring means carried by said casing for biasing said contacts to open circuit position.

FRED VON HOORN.

REFERENCES crrEp The following references are of record in the file of this patent: v 

